Teen Head Injuries Linked to Greater Suicide Risk

Emerging research suggests that teenagers who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) such as a concussion are at “significantly greater odds” of attempting suicide, being bullied, and engaging in a variety of high-risk behaviors.

“Investigators found that these teens were also more likely to become bullies themselves, to have sought counseling through a crisis helpline, or to have been prescribed medication for anxiety, depression, or both,” said neuropsychologist Dr. Gabriela Ilie, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

Additionally, after having a head injury teens have higher odds of damaging property, breaking and entering, taking a car without permission, selling marijuana or hashish, running away from home, setting a fire, getting into a fight at school, or carrying or being threatened by a weapon.

The study findings are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Ilie said the study provides the first population-based evidence demonstrating the extent of the association between TBI and poor mental health outcomes among adolescents.

“These results show that preventable brain injuries and mental health and behavioral problems among teens continue to remain a blind spot in our culture,”Â Ilie said. “These kids are falling through the cracks.”

Researchers studied data captured by the 2011 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The survey, one of the longest ongoing school surveys in the world, contains responses from almost 9,000 students from Grades seven to 12 in publicly funded schools across Ontario.

The OSDUHS began as a drug use survey, but is now a broader study of adolescent health and well-being. Questions about traumatic brain injury were added to the survey for the first time in 2011.

“We know from a previous study based on OSDUHS data that as many as 20 percent of adolescents in Ontario said they have experienced a traumatic brain injury in their lifetime,” said Dr. Robert Mann, senior scientist at CAMH and director of the OSDUHS.

“The relationship between TBI and mental health issues is concerning and calls for greater focus on prevention and further research on this issue.”

Ilie said the teenage years are already a turbulent time for some, as they try to figure out who they are and what they want to be.

“Since a TBI can exacerbate mental health and behavioral issues,” she said “primary physicians, schools, parents, and coaches need to be vigilant in monitoring adolescents with TBI.”

“In addition,” she said “many TBI experienced by youth occur during sports and recreational pursuits and are largely preventable through use of helmets and the elimination of body checking in hockey.”

The study found that adolescents who had suffered a TBI sometime in their life had twice the odds of being bullied at school or via the Internet and almost three times the odds of attempting suicide or being threatened at school with a weapon compared to those without a TBI.

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About Rick Nauert PhD

Dr. Rick Nauert has over 25 years experience in clinical, administrative and academic healthcare. He is currently an associate professor for Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals doctoral program in health promotion and wellness. Dr. Nauert began his career as a clinical physical therapist and served as a regional manager for a publicly traded multidisciplinary rehabilitation agency for 12 years. He has masters degrees in health-fitness management and healthcare administration and a doctoral degree from The University of Texas at Austin focused on health care informatics, health administration, health education and health policy. His research efforts included the area of telehealth with a specialty in disease management.